Reading Fightin Phils Set To Make Home Debut

The Reading Fightin Phils are off and running – maybe not quite as fast as last season, when they matched the best start in club history by winning their first five games and seven of their first eight, but they’ve gotten off to a positive start.

The Phillies won four times on a season-opening seven-game road trip to New Hampshire and Portland.  Not bad, considering how young the club is and how badly things started, with a 9-0 loss Opening Night.

Reading manager Dusty Wathan, whose roster includes 10 players making their Double-A debuts and 12 who are 23 or younger, said he likes what he’s seen the first week of the season.

“I think we’ve done a great job of being aggressive on the bases, of putting pressure on the defense,” said Wathan. “We, as an organization, want to emphasize that aggressiveness (this year).  We’ve been taking extra bases, our steal attempts are up.  I like the way we’ve been aggressive on the base paths.”

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=468571

With No Sellout For Opener, Commissioners Pump Up RailRiders Debut

Locator map of the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Metropolitan Statistical Area in the northeastern part of the of . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With Opening Day for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders fast approaching, the Lackawanna County commissioners raved about the new PNC Field and plans for the baseball season at their meeting Wednesday.

They said fans will love the new $43.3 million stadium and its amenities, though plenty of tickets remain for the return of minor league baseball to the region on April 4.

Commissioner Jim Wan-sacz said club- and suite-level seats are sold out for the next three years, but conventional seating is still available.

“There’s probably about another 2,000 tickets available for opening day,” Mr. Wansacz said. The stadium seats 10,000.

Read more:  http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/with-no-sellout-for-opener-commissioners-pump-up-railriders-debut-1.1464686

Fans Get Look At New RailRiders PNC Field Ballpark Stadium

Locator map of the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Metropolitan Statistical Area in the northeastern part of the of . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Joe Mielo has been attending ballgames at the minor league baseball stadium in Lackawanna County since it opened in 1989.

PNC Field, home to the new Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, closed last year for a $43 million rebuilding and will have its much-anticipated season opener April 4.  Mr. Mielo, who will be in his usual spot behind home plate, in Section 22, Row 5, Seat 7, was one of many fans who braved frigid temperatures Saturday to get a first glimpse of the stadium’s overhaul and new look during an open house.

“Oh, it’s going to be nice,” the 77-year-old West Scranton man said of the revamped ballpark.

Gone is the steep, hulking upper deck that had a roof line as high up as the stadium’s lighting towers.  The main gate is now a spacious, open-air corridor into the ballpark. Other new features include a wraparound concourse, a bar, bleachers and lawn seating and a kids’ area.

Read more:  http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/fans-get-look-at-new-railriders-pnc-field-ballpark-stadium-1.1435534

Reading Phillies Fans: Leave Our Name Alone

READING, PA – In a city that has taken to calling itself Baseballtown, the sport is more than a pastime.  It’s become something of a lifeline.

The hometown Reading Phillies have come to symbolize endurance and pride for a community that the 2010 U.S. Census ranked No. 1 in the nation in poverty.  The Phillies remained long after the railroad screeched to a halt and the city’s “Outlet Capital” moniker faded. They’ve provided a welcome diversion from financial struggles and an 8 percent unemployment rate.

Given the 46-year love affair with the Philadelphia Phillies‘ Double-A farm club, there was an understandable citywide gasp when the team announced it is changing its nickname, logo and jerseys.  The move was an unexpected change-up that is testing tradition and the city’s identity and polarizing a fiercely loyal fan base.

Ed Oswald, a retired hairstylist who lives outside the city, is among many who have balked at the idea.

Read more:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-reading-phillies-name-change-20121115,0,4165520.story

Reading Phillies Want To Extend Stadium Lease

The Reading Phillies want to extend their lease of the city-owned FirstEnergy Stadium by 16 years to allow the refinancing of a loan that paid in part for the stadium’s recent $10 million makeover.

But City Council first wants to ask R-Phils‘ managing partner Craig Stein if the team is willing to pay more than its current lease that brings the city only $22,000 a year.

The current lease and the loan payments expire in 2021.

Michael Vind, the city’s financial consultant from S&Lutions, told council last week that Fulton Bank had been unwilling to extend the loan beyond the lease, but had to keep the annual payments to what the R-Phils could afford: $278,000 a year.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=390681

Lackawanna County And Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Reach Tentative Agreement On New Stadium

Cap logo of the New York Yankees (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lackawanna County and SWB Yankees LLC have reached a tentative agreement that officials believe will keep the New York Yankees Triple-A baseball team playing in Moosic for decades to come, the county announced Friday.

The two sides resolved the final outstanding issues late Thursday night and handed the deal over to lawyers to reduce to a formal, written contract, Commissioner Corey D. O’Brien said. Both sides are confident enough in expecting a final written agreement that they have invited contractors to move in equipment to start work on the up to $40 million new stadium, where the team would play starting next year.

“It’s a substantial step forward,” Mr. O’Brien said. “We still need a signed document.”

A county announcement said the two sides “are on the verge of an agreement,” but Mr. O’Brien and Commissioner Jim Wansacz agreed with the characterization of events as a tentative agreement

Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/county-baseball-deal-close-enough-to-prep-for-demolition-1.1296307#ixzz1rMzp7p4f

July 4th Activities In Pottstown

Monday, July 4, 2011
7:45 a.m. – Skateboarders Run Hill School
8:00 a.m. – Patriotic Pottstown 5K Run Hill School
10:15 a.m. Parade and Flyover High Street
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 7th Annual BMX American Eagle Race Trilogy Park
1:00 – 7:00 pm Craft Show Field # 2
12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Pottstown Little League All Star Games (National League) Memorial Park Field #3
1:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Field of Flags – Open for Public Viewing Memorial Park Island Entrances
1:30 – 7:00 p.m. 4th of July Calendar, Hat and Memorabilia Sales Field #2 @ July 4 Sound Booth

2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Pottstown Little League All Star Games (American League) Memorial Park Field #3
2:00 – 4:30 p.m. Water Slide Dyke @ Field 2
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Four Faces West sponsored by Trilogy Park Main Stage
4:00 p.m. Pottstown Rotary Rubber Duckie Release Manatawny Creek
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Pottstown Little League All Star Games (T-Ball) Memorial Park Field #3
6:00 p.m. 27th Annual – Hot Air Balloon Extravaganza Field # 2
6:00 – 9:00 pm Holt Twins (classic rock) Main Stage
6:30 pm Hot Air Balloon Take Off Field #2
7:15 p.m. Pottstown Area Senior Center Car Drawing Main Stage
10:00 p.m. Fireworks!

Knucklehead Epidemic At Citizens Bank Park

Image via Wikipedia

 

WTH is going on in Philadelphia with moronic teenagers running on to the field during Phillies games?  Is there something in the water?  The most recent imbecile was dressed like a Marvel Comic superhero and ran on the field during the 7th inning, only to be tripped by a player.         

His parents are letting him sit in jail.  GOOD, dumbass needs to learn a lesson.  He is lucky he didn’t get tased!         

Scranton Triple-A Baseball Park Grant – No Comment

An interesting article appeared in yesterday’s Morning Call about PNC Field in Moosic, a Scranton suburb.  The 22-year-old, 10,000 seat stadium is in need of repairs to its concrete and steel structure.  PNC Field is the home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, a Triple A farm team for MLB’s New York Yankees.

So along comes Fast Eddie offering a $20,000,000.00 grant to help repair the aging stadium.  This would be the largest grant ever given during the Rendell administration’s tenure.  The money would come from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

It seems officials would like to see PNC Field become more like Coca Cola Park in Allentown, which is more family-friendly. 

Now the catch is, there must be matching funding for the project.  As of Monday, there was no definite answer where the other half of the money would come from.  The entire project is being kept a secret for some reason.  Rendell’s office is not commenting on what exactly the money will be used for.  At this juncture, one can only speculate what the project will entail.

The Rendell administration is braying about the economic impact of fixing the stadium.  That is all well and good but why all the secrecy?  The Yankees are making no comments either.  It is time for new leadership in this state who believe in transparency!

Local Phillies Fan Who Was Tasered Gets Probation

Seventeen-year-old Steven Consalvi, from Gilbertsville, made the national news when he got tasered for running onto the field at Citizens Bank Park during the 8th inning of a Phillies game.  His father, Wayne Consalvi, owns an auto repair shop in North Coventry Township and was interviewed by the local media regarding the incident.

Steven received 80 hours of public service and is on probation for six months.  I think this young man is fortunate to have escaped without more serious charges.  Hopefully he learned his lesson and others will think twice before doing something like this.  It may seem like the “cool” thing to do at the time but the consequences far outweight the “thrill”.  Fortunately, this sentence should not mess up his permanent record.

Phillies Suffer Heartbreaking 9th Inning Loss To The Yankees

I thought we were going to pull out a win until the 9th inning…too upset to discuss further at this time. 

Lee is back in tonight so maybe, just maybe, we can at least win one more game before we go back to NYC. 

 

Thank God for the Eagles today.  Otherwise ……

Phils Lose Early Lead – Yankees Win 8 – 5

Game three was a heartbreaking 8-5 loss to the Yankees at home.  The Phils lost their early 3-0 lead over the Yankees with the final score at Citizen’s Bank Park being 8-5.

Let’s hope for better results tonight!

Go Eagles and Go Phillies!!!

World Series Tied Up At 1-1

So the damn Yankees tied it up tonight after a 3-1 win.  BUT the next game is at Citizens Bank Park here in Philadelphia so we have the home field advantage!  Look out, Philly is in the house on Saturday!

World Champion Philadelphia Phillies 6 – Pathetic Yankees 1

So A-Rod and friends didn’t exactly grind us into the dirt tonight.  Whatsamatta boys?  Havin’ an off night???  Does it usually take you 9 innings to score a run?? 

Guess being over-confident, cockey, arrogant and disrespectful of our Phillies got you a bad case of Karma.  What goes around comes around.  Or in the words of Bea Arthur (Maude) God will get you for that!

Maybe the Yankees should eat some humble pie before they come back tomorrow!  Just sayin’….

Phillies vs. Yankees In The World Series

At least we don’t have to travel far.  The defending champs, Philadelphia Phillies, will show the big spending Yankees how we roll!

GO PHILLIES!!!  It’s beat Yankee time!!!

Angels Stayin’ Alive In Play-offs

In a major nail-biter the Angels beat the Yankees 7-6.  Literally down to the last pitch with Yankees on every base, two outs and only a one run lead, the Angels managed to hang on tonight when Nick Swisher hit a pop up out to shortstop Eric Aybar!

So now it’s 3-2 in the series and we have to wait a little longer to see who the Phillies are up against.  That’s okay, it gives our boys a nice rest so they are ready to kick butt and win us another World Series!!!!!!

Go Phillies!

Phillies Upset Dodgers In The Bottom Of The 9th

What an “on the edge of your seat” game that was!  HOLY COW!!!  Bottom of the 9th, 4-3 Dodgers, 2 outs and Jimmy Rollins hits in 2 more runs in for the WIN!!   5-4 Phillies!!!

Phillies are now 3-1 over the Dodgers.  One more win sends us back to the World Series!  Let’s home that comes Wednesday night right here at Citizens Bank Park!

Go Phillies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phillies Make The Playoffs!!!!!

Tonight’s 10-3 victory over the Astro’s clinched the Phillies their third straight NL East title!! Congratulations to our Philadelphia Phillies!!!!